Advanced Condition Assessment
Techniques for Improved
System Performance
Grid Condition Assessment Priorities for
Improved System Resiliency and Reliability
• Based in Columbus, OH
• US / Canada Alliance Partners
• International Alliance Partners
Australia, Mexico
• 5 U.S. Patents, 7 Int’l Patents
• 2 million+ Poles Surveyed
• 3rd Party Validation
• DOE
• NETL
• The Ohio State University
Research Facilities
The Ohio State University High Voltage Laboratory
Predictive Maintenance (PdM)
RF Emission Grid Inspection
Ultrasonic Detection
Infrared Detection
Visual Inspection
Benefits of PdM Strategies
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Maintenance costs - down by 50%
Unexpected failures - reduced by 55%
Repair and overhaul time - down by 60%
Spare parts inventory - reduced by 30%
30% increase in machinery MTBF
30% increase in uptime
Applying PdM Strategy to the Grid
1.
2.
3.
4.
Assess System Condition
Schedule Maintenance
Measure Results
Repeat Process
The 31% Problem
All Studies Agree:
31% of Non-Storm Related Outages in
America are due to Deteriorating Equipment
U.S. Non Weather-Related Outages on the
Electric Distribution System
31% of outages
are caused by
failing equipment
32% of outages
are caused by trees
Data Source:
Miscellaneous
19%
Animals
18%
Common Utility Focus Areas
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Worst Performing Circuits
CMI or other related indices
Circuit Rebuild Priority
Smart Grid and/or AMI Preparation
Geography
Critical Loads
Equipment Type – i.e. surge arrester only, porcelain cutouts, etc.
Solution: Vision Analytics
What is it?
•
A strategic and analytic assessment of Overhead circuits that accurately identifies
opportunities to improve circuit performance, reliability, and grid resilience
How Does it Work?
•
A collaborative process that incorporates utility outage information, patented Exacter
technology, and Exacter analytics to accurately assess overhead systems
–
Vision Analytics: Utility Outage Information + Patented Technology + Exacter Analytics
Benefits of Vision Analytics
•
Vision Analytics provides strategic, specific, and actionable information to improve
circuit performance
Example Long Term Trend Analysis
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Reduce CMI and related indices
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Optimize outage information
–
Prioritize maintenance operations
–
Reduce costs association with outage
restoration
Index
SAIDI (minutes)
SAIFI (# of outages)
CAIDI (minutes)
MAIFI (interruptions)
2009
2010
2011
2012
71.18
61.33
63.92
23.38
1.52
1.48
1.53
1.03
46.73
41.32
41.9
22.78
5.48
6.13
5.83
4.21
Utility Sample Outage Statistics
Optimized Project Design
Data Acquisition and Analysis Process
Data Acquisition &
Discrimination
Data Analysis
Actionable
Information
Data analyzed for severity,
persistence and prevalence,
enabling:
• Exact locating of failing
component
• Replacement prioritization
RF emissions from arcing
(deteriorated) electrical components
Exacter sensor in vehicle/aircraft collects
the signals and then discriminates and
GPS locates arcing, tracking and leaking
electrical components
Precise GPS coordinates
and relevant conditiondata transmitted
to servers for final
statistical geospatial
analysis
Reports and GIS compatible
information provided to customer
Grid Condition Assessment
The 986 RED Failure
Signature Events are
studied by
EXACTER Servers
to create this result:
25 BLUE
Maintenance Groups
where a structure
includes at least one
weakened
component.
Customer Prioritized Data
Once the overall
condition
assessment
information has been
resolved, the
GREEN prioritized
locations that have
been identified as
priority maintenance
locations are
confirmed with
ultrasonic equipment
for repair.
Pinpoint Equipment to Replace
Specific component(s)
that are arcing, leaking
or tracking on those
structures that have
been prioritized for
repair are identified.
Photographs, Maps,
Reports, and GIS Files
are provided.
GIS
.SHP
File
Vision Analytics: Deliverables
Vision Analytics: Deliverables
GIS/.SHP / .KMZ Files
Vision Analytics Process and Responsibilities
Project
Provide CMI Data
CMI Analysis
Create Territory
Survey Route Planning
Vehicle Scheduling
QC Equipment and Territory Assignment
System Surveying
Create Field Service Maps
Perform Field Location Services
Create Field Report
Review Findings
Perform Prioritized Maintenance
Measure Circuit CMI Impact
Long Term CMI Trend Analysis
Utility
1. Assess Grid Condition
Data Acquisition &
Discrimination
Data Analysis
Actionable
Information
Data analyzed for severity,
persistence and prevalence,
enabling:
• Exact locating of failing
component
• Replacement prioritization
RF emissions from arcing
(deteriorated) electrical components
Exacter sensor in vehicle/aircraft collects
the signals and then discriminates and
GPS locates arcing, tracking and leaking
electrical components
Precise GPS coordinates
and relevant conditiondata transmitted
to servers for final
statistical geospatial
analysis
Reports and GIS compatible
information provided
2. Schedule PdM Maintenance
AND 
• Record Resource Hours
• Monitor Inventory
• Report Results
3. Measure Results
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Customer Complaints
Number of Outages
Customer-Minutes of Interruption (CMI)
SAIDI
SAIFI
CAIDI
MAIFI
CEMI
Inventory Used to Maintain
Cost of Resources
Year to Year Trends
Case Study 1: COOP 3-Phase System
Goal: Reduce CMI/SAIDI
• 276 3-phase, circuit-miles
• 27 Circuits
• 39 Specific maintenance
actions prioritized
• 1 Repair each 6.1 miles
• 228 Customers Impacted on
average
• 798,757 CMI impacted
• 10% SAIDI Impact
Opportunity (15.7 min.)
• Total $52,000
Go Forward Plan:
Annual 3-phase Project
Case Study 2: UNITIL 3-Phase System
Goal: Reduce CMI/SAIDI
• 428, 3-phase, circuit-miles
• 56 Specific maintenance
actions prioritized
• 1 Repair each 7.6 miles
• 559 Customers Impacted on
average (31,245 total)
• 2,980,508 CMI impacted
• 24.2% SAIDI Impact
Opportunity (39.4 min.)
• Total $100,000
Go Forward Plan:
Annual 3-phase Project, Subtransmission, Important 1-phase
laterals, & substations
Q&A
Contact:
• John Lauletta, Exacter, Inc.
• Tommy Malone, Davey Resource Group